It has been rumoured that long-running radio antidote to panel games I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue is set to continue following the sad loss of Humphrey Lyttleton in April.

Who on earth could replace him though? Several names have been mentioned, but here is Quintessential Comedy’s list of suggestions:

Michael Palin - would prevent him doing any more bloody travelogues.

Ian Hislop - busy with documentaries and HIGNFY he may be, but he’s the sort of unlikely candidate that could make a success of being a replacement

Angus Deayton - helmed Have I Got News For You for years, so certainly has the experience.

Stephen Fry - obvious, maybe, but he could certainly do the job.

Mark Radcliffe - no stranger to double entendre, and could work as a perfect counterbalance to the more educated tones of the regular guests.

Ken Bruce - urbane, dry, occasionally stumbling - perfect

Of course it is obvious that if the show returns, it will never be the same, regardless of the host. In his eulogy in The Guardian, Barry Cryer underlined that there had to be “an agonising reappraisal”.

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June 15 has been announced as the day when Radio 4 will broadcast a series of tributes to Humphrey Lyttleton, jazz trumpeter and star of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, who died recently.

Shows on the day will include a new tribute documentary, as well as repeats of his Desert Island Discs appearance.  There will also be a repeat of his programme about jazz, The King of the Swingers.

A newly commissioned profile of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, with extracts of the best programmes, will be presented by Stephen Fry.

No decision has been announced over the future of the series; Rob Brydon recently filled in for Humph while the presenter was in hospital.

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It’s with a sad heart that I relate the news of Humphrey Lyttleton’s passing.  The jazz musician extraordinaire and host of the long running “antidote to panel games” I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue passed away yesterday at the age of 86, following surgery for an aortic aneurysm.

Lyttleton was born into the landed gentry, but a short career spell in Wales amongst steel workers set him on the road to socialism. His trumpet playing began soon before the war, during which he took the instrument with him wherever he went, and can (possibly) be heard on footage of VE Day in London.  the following 60 or so years saw him marry twice, develop his musical, his artistic ability and forge careers in music, broadcasting, cartoons and of course as the deadpan host of a comedy institution. (There is so much more about Humprey Lyttleton’s life in this excellent obituary in The Telegraph.)
There is little else I can add, other than to remind us of some wonderful double entrendres, from the exploits of the fictitious scoring girl Samantha…

 - Samantha’s just started keeping bees and already has three dozen or so. She says she’s got an expert handler coming round to give a demonstration. He’ll carefully take out her 38 bees and soon have them flying round his head.

- Samantha has to nip out to the House of Lords with her constituency friend. He’s looking for support for his MP who’s facing expulsion, and Samantha says it’s important to have a good peer if his member’s likely to be out.

- Samantha spent many hours in conversation with the BBC gramophone library research staff for this round, deliberating over the fine old 7-inchers they presented for inspection. She says before deciding which she was going to spin she had to think about each one long and hard

…and may he rest in peace.

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Just heard that the host of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, Humphrey Littleton, has been admitted to hospital.

From Digital Spy:

The spring series of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue has been cancelled while Humphrey Lyttelton awaits an operation.

The veteran host’s official website informed fans that the 86-year-old needed surgery because of an aortic aneurysm.

A note on the site said it would give updates on his condition. It said: “He is in good spirits and is enjoying the visits of family and friends.”

Lyttelton, also a Jazz musician, has presented the comedy panel show on BBC Radio 4 since 1972.

We all hope you get well soon, Humph, and back to work as soon as you’re able.

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